County of Alameda

DESCRIPTION

Under close supervision, in the kitchen or dining area of an Alameda County institution, to do the routine work involved in food preparation, cooking, and serving; to do a variety of cleaning, washing, and routine manual tasks involved in food preparation and serving; to keep dining areas and equipment in a clean and orderly condition; and to do related work as required.

DISTINGUISHING FEATURES

Duties assigned to Food Service Workers consist of all the more routine tasks involved in the operation of a food service department in a County institution. These duties range from simple food handling, portioning, serving, repairing, tray assembling, and light cooking to cleaning, mopping, sweeping, loading food into carts, cleaning trucks and equipment, washing large and heavy pots and pans, and transporting food carts to dining areas and removing refuse to disposal area. Positions assigned to Probation Department Juvenile Institutions may supervise small groups of detainees assigned to the serving areas. The next higher class of Senior Food Service Worker has working Lead responsibility. Supervision of food service workers comes from this class or from the food service supervisor, first cooks, supervising cooks or dietitians.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

NOTE: The following are the duties performed by employees in this classification. However, employees may perform other related duties at an equivalent level. Each individual in the classification does not necessarily perform all duties listed.

1. Washes dishes, pots, and pans either by hand or using dishwashing and potwashing machines.

2. Cleans stoves, steam kettles, ovens, and other standing kitchen equipment; sweeps and mops floors; removes dirty dishes from dining tables to the kitchen; cleans tables and chairs, and other general cleaning such as refrigerators or storage areas.

3. Assists in receiving deliveries of pre-portioned trayed meals.

4. Re-heats prepared meals in preparation for service.

5. Monitors food quality/safety report for irregularities or safety hazards to the supervisor.

6. Prepares special diets as ordered by doctors, grinding and otherwise preparing and cooking meat, vegetables and other foods, assembling and weighing them according to recipe.

7. Assists in the preparation of salads, cold foods and beverages.

8. Pushes loaded food carts from kitchen to dining areas, returns food carts and dirty dishes from dining areas to kitchen area for cleaning.

9. Cleans, peels and cuts vegetables by hand and by using electrically powered peelers, dicers, and slicers.

10. Unloads food supplies from delivery trucks, stacks them in proper storage places, and keeps storage room clean, under the direction of Supply Clerk or kitchen supervisor.

11. Sets up food line and food service equipment, putting out utensils and keeping serving line supplied with food; dishes up and serves food works in a kitchen or dining area keeping food at proper serving temperature.

12. Makes up food portions for juvenile detainees' special diets; weighs servings, obtains special items, dishes up food according to diet required, and labels.

13. May supervise small groups of detainees assigned to the serving areas.

14. On a relief basis or as a trainee, assists a Cook or relieves a Senior Food Service Worker.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Experience:

The equivalent of six months of experience in either serving or assisting in the preparation of food or washing dishes, pots and pans in a large cafeteria or dining room.

Special Requirements: Certain positions require possession of a valid California driver's license.

A thorough background investigation will be conducted of all prospective Food Service Workers to ensure they are suitable for work within a 24-hour Juvenile Probation facility.

Food Service Workers are assigned to work day, evening and rotating shifts, including weekends and holidays.

Security clearance must be maintained throughout the employee’s tenure. Failure to maintain departmental security standards may result in termination.

NOTE: The Civil Service Commission may modify the above Minimum Qualifications in the announcement of an examination.

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS

NOTE: The level and scope of the following knowledge and abilities are related to duties listed under the "Examples of Duties" section of this specification.

Knowledge of:

• The common equipment, utensils, methods and terminology used in food preparation.
• Proper methods of food service and food handling; modern kitchen cleaning methods, supplies, and equipment.

Ability to:

• Follow detailed written and oral instructions, and learn quantity food serving and preparation techniques.
• Learn to use food choppers, coffee urns, stoves, dishwashing and potwashing machines and related quantity cooking equipment.
• Work effectively with a wide variety of people.
• For some positions, ability to perform heavy manual work such as lifting and moving equipment and supplies is required.
• Read and write English.
• Perform simple math computations in following recipes and other directions.
• Maintain personal hygiene.

CLASS SPEC HISTORY

IB:lfm
Revised: 11/80
Retyped: 3/85
TZ:pb
Updated: 12/86
Old document: 0701h
New document: 7510.doc
ys/3/01
CSC Date: 12/1/80
VH:pf Rev. 12/20/01
CSC Date: 1/30/02
IB:cs Revised 1/25/12
CSC Date: 2/22/12

BENEFITS

Alameda County offers a comprehensive and competitive benefits package that affords wide-ranging health care options to meet the different needs of a diverse workforce and their families. We also sponsor many different employee discount, fitness and health screening programs focused on overall well being.  These benefits include but are not limited to*:

For your Health & Well-Being

• Medical – HMO & PPO Plans
• Dental – HMO & PPO Plans
• Vision or Vision Reimbursement
• Share the Savings
• Basic Life Insurance 
• Supplemental Life Insurance (with optional dependent coverage for eligible employees) 
• County Allowance Credit
• Flexible Spending Accounts - Health FSA, Dependent Care and Adoption Assistance
• Short-Term Disability Insurance
• Long-Term Disability Insurance
• Voluntary Benefits - Accident Insurance, Critical Illness, Hospital Indemnity and Legal Services
• Employee Assistance Program

For your Financial Future

• Retirement Plan - (Defined Benefit Pension Plan)
• Deferred Compensation Plan (457 Plan or Roth Plan)

For your Work/Life Balance

• 12 paid holidays
• Floating Holidays
• Vacation and sick leave accrual
• Vacation purchase program
• Catastrophic Sick Leave
• Pet Insurance
• Commuter Benefits Program
• Guaranteed Ride Home
• Employee Wellness Program (e.g. At Work Fitness, Incentive Based Programs, Gym Membership Discounts)
• Employee Discount Program (e.g. theme parks, cell phone, etc.)
• Child Care Resources
• 1^st United Services Credit Union 

*Eligibility is determined by Alameda County and offerings may vary by collective bargaining agreement.  This provides a brief summary of the benefits offered and can be subject to change.